Protective Sleeve

ABSTRACT

Protective Sleeve slip on device held by elastic to protect the arm and hand. This Protective sleeve is loose fitting and retractable and worn independently or concealed under or outside of clothing. The Protective sleeve is manufactured in any size or any length to fit over the hand. The elastic band sewn at one open end allows for an opening part to slip on while the other end is left open covering the hand in the extended position. The Protective Sleeve moves up and down the forearm, wrist and hand to allow for multiple forms of protection. This Protective Sleeve in any extended position; that covers the hand, allows for protection to the hand when holding or touching any surface, item or bodily parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective apparel, and more particularly to the arm and hand. The Protective Sleeve is used to protect its wearer from touching surfaces, items or bodily parts. The present need for an anti-bacterial device to help from preventing the spread of diseases and viruses; including COVID-19 is of particular attention. Prior art shows protection to the forearm and wrist and does not protect the hand; and/or, protection in the form of a glove that only covers a hand; also including, sleeves that cover the forearm and the wrist attached to gloves. The Protective Sleeve is easily accessible and concealed and can be worn in the extended or the retractable position on the arm which eliminates the need to continually place and remove gloves from the hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Protective Sleeve device for an arm and hand is provided. In one embodiment, the Protective Sleeve is worn on the forearm attached by an open elastic end which can be extended to protect the hand.

In another embodiment, the Protective Sleeve is worn on the forearm attached by an open elastic end which can be retracted and/or concealed when not in use thus protecting the forearm.

The current embodiments of the Protective Sleeve provides protection to the arm and hand that has been unachievable with previous protective sleeves. For example, protective sleeves normally cover the arm, forearm and wrist and do not cover the hand. Furthermore, hand gloves are worn to protect hands but must be worn intermittently. The Protective Sleeve allows for easy accessibility for protection while constantly wearing the device in the extended or retractable position so the device can be worn long term. This freedom can be helpful where the arm device wearer is holding any item or touching any surface; including and; including and not limited to, handrails, door handles, shopping carts, athletic equipment, car handles, credit card machines, ATM machines, cans, mail, boxes, paper items, gas tank handles, face, eyes and body, or any other persons or items which is especially important when mitigating the spread of viruses like COVID-19.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be limiting. Further, enumeration may be used to the description of various parts to the embodiment. Unless as otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Protective Sleeve not being worn in a horizontal position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Protective Sleeve of a current embodiment in the extended position on a wearer's arm showing the hand being covered by the device with a dotted line holding onto a chair.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the Protective Sleeve in the retracted position on a wearer's arm.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the Protective Sleeve in its utilitarian function of holding a can showing the wearer's hand covered with the device.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

A current embodiment of the Protective Sleeve in the form of an arm and hand as a protective device as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The Protective Sleeve in FIG. 1 is configured to attached to the forearm in 13 and extend over the wrist 14 and cover the hand 15. The Protective Sleeve can effectively hold the device on the forearm with an open ended elastic band in 12. The Protective Sleeve can be extended over the hand in FIG. 2 with an opening in the upper end 15 covering the hand and used to hold any item or touch any surface. The Protective Sleeve can be worn in a retractable position FIG. 3 shown retracted at the upper end in 15 showing the location of the device on the wrist in 16.

The various parts to the embodiment for the Protective Sleeve will now be described in further detail. With Reference to FIG. 1-2 the Protective Sleeve can be constructed so that the forearm device includes an open upper or first end 13 and an open lower end 15. The upper end 13 can be higher up on the forearm of the wearer than the lower end 15. With this construction, the Protective Sleeve and its components also extend upwardly on the medial and lateral sides of the wearer's forearm to provide protection thereto.

The Protective Sleeve can be constructed of one piece of fabric to be sewn with one lateral forearm seam 10 and an elastic thread inserted into the hem 11 represent the band 12. With the one elastic thread inserted into the hem 11 the sleeve can be considered to be substantially free from attachment to the upper end 13 of the forearm and the lower end 15 of the wrist and hand. The Protective Sleeve shown in FIG. 1-4 are being shown without a hem on the upper end 15. A hem on the upper end of 15 may be added. Once installed on the forearm, the wearer may choose to retract the device in FIG. 3 while wearing in 16. The Protective Sleeve in the extended position FIG. 2 can be used to hold any item FIG. 4 in 17 or touch any surface to help mitigate COVID-19. The Protective Sleeve can be extended to any degree along the forearm while being securely fastened to the wrist 14.

With reference to FIGS. 1,2,3 and 4 and as mentioned above, the Protective Sleeve can be a tubular configuration of any shape as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This sleeve, in the present form of a tube, can extend along the forearm, wrist and hand in FIGS. 1,2 and 4.

The Protective Sleeve can be constructed of a single layer fabric that is anti-bacterial, washable, printable, and reusable. The device can be constructed from a fabric, knitted, woven or non-woven such as Tyvek, Lycra™, Spandex, polyester, nylon, or some other generally soft, pliable, lightweight material. The Protective Sleeve could be glued, stitched, cemented or otherwise secured with fasteners to provide acceptable functionality.

Directional terms, such as “horizontal”, “upper”, “lower”, “Medial”, “Lateral” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiment shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in the connection of this embodiment. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, an alternative element that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiment include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, or “said” is not to be construed as limiting the elements to the singular. 

1. A protective apparatus comprising: an adjustable sleeve made of a single layer of antibacterial fabric configured to be independently worn to enclose a forearm, a wrist, and a hand of a user during use, the adjustable sleeve including: an open upper end of the adjustable sleeve and an open lower end of the adjustable sleeve, the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve configured for placement on the forearm or the wrist of the user, wherein the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve includes elastic that secures the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve into place onto the forearm or the wrist of the user; and the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve configured for compressible movement of the adjustable sleeve to a desired position along the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user, wherein the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve is configured to not secure to the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user.
 2. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic is sewn into a band of the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve and configured to be the only point of securing attachment on the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user.
 3. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve and the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve are substantially the same width.
 4. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is configured to cover the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user in an extended position to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 5. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve can be compressed from the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve toward the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve to a desired position.
 6. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is configured to cover the forearm and the wrist of the user in a compressed position to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is not attached to any other garment or device, to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 9. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve configured to act as a hand covering of the user to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 10. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is configured to cover the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user to prevent the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user from directly contacting a surface to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 11. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is configured to cover the forearm of the user in a compressed position to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses.
 12. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is configured to adjust to cover any of the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single layer fabric is printable.
 15. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single layer fabric is a non-woven material.
 16. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single layer fabric is at least one of Tyvek, Lycra, Spandex, polyester, and nylon.
 17. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable sleeve is glued.
 18. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve is configured to adjust in an extended position to cover the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user to mitigate or prevent spread of COVID-19.
 19. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open lower end of the adjustable sleeve is configured to adjust in a compressed position to cover less than the entirety of the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user.
 20. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the adjustable sleeve and an exterior surface of the adjustable sleeve is the same layered material.
 21. The protective apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an elastic thread sewn into a hem on the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve.
 22. An apparatus comprising: a tubular adjustable sleeve made of a single layer of non-woven and antibacterial fabric configured to be independently worn to enclose a forearm, a wrist, and a hand of a user during use, wherein the tubular adjustable sleeve is configured to cover the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user in an extended position to mitigate spread of diseases and viruses, the tubular adjustable sleeve including: an open upper end of the tubular adjustable sleeve and an open lower end of the tubular adjustable sleeve, wherein the open upper end of the adjustable sleeve and the open lower end of the tubular adjustable sleeve are substantially the same width, the open upper end of the tubular adjustable sleeve configured for placement on the forearm or the wrist of the user, wherein the open upper end of the tubular adjustable sleeve includes an elastic band that secures the open upper end of the tubular adjustable sleeve into place onto the forearm or the wrist of the user and configured to be the only point of securing attachment on the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user; and the open lower end of the tubular adjustable sleeve configured for compressible movement of the tubular adjustable sleeve to a desired position along the forearm, the wrist, and the hand of the user. 